Scoundrel (29 page)

He’d managed to take her robe off while they kissed, and he watched her step closer to the fireplace. The fire outlined her body perfectly through the thin nightgown and he studied the shape of her legs. “Who says anyone will find you?” he asked in a somewhat quieter voice. “I have no intention of opening the door.” There was another knock, louder than the last two, but he ignored it and released an irritated sigh. “I am sound asleep. Anyone foolish enough to pound on my door at this time of night should know as much.”

Lily stopped wringing her hands and they fell to her sides. She gave the door a worried look. “What if they don’t go away?”

He turned his hand over and studied his nails. “I daresay their knuckles will grow sore.” He patted the bed. “Come sit by me while we wait for them to leave.”

She looked scandalized by the invitation. “How can you think of kissing at a time like this?”

“I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort,” he said in an injured voice. “Shame on you, Lady Lillian. You have the imagination of a brazen woman.”

“I wasn’t the least brazen before I met you, my lord.” Her gaze swung toward the door and the sound of a muffled male voice.

“Remmington? Are you awake?”

Lily’s eyes grew round with horror. “It’s Lord Holybrook!”

“Damnation.” Remmington pushed off the bed. He’d assumed Patricia had told Farnsworth some version of what happened, that an irate husband stood outside his door. An irate host was another matter entirely. He strode toward the door with Lily in tow. With one finger held to his lips, he pushed her toward the wall where no one would see her. He opened the door just wide enough that his body filled the opening.

Garbed in a maroon velvet dressing gown and slippers, Lord Holybrook didn’t appear very pleased to see Remmington. His bushy white brows furrowed together into a frown. “Forgive me for disturbing you at this hour, Your Grace.” He glanced down the empty hallway, then his gaze returned to Remmington. “Lady Farnsworth has half the south wing awake, screeching that you and Lady Lillian threatened her life. I don’t believe that nonsense for a moment, but I thought it best to check and make sure nothing is amiss.” When it became obvious that Remmington didn’t intend to respond to that news, Lord Holybrook cleared his throat. “Yes, well. My wife thought it best to check on Lady Lillian before we bothered you with this matter, Your Grace. She didn’t want to disturb anyone’s sleep unnecessarily, so she thought to use the housekeeper’s key to open Lady Lillian’s door. As it turns out, she found the door unlocked.”

Remmington went very still. “And?”

“Lady Lillian is not in her bed, Your Grace.” Holybrook hesitated, his voice uncertain. “Before my wife rouses the servants to search the house, I thought it a wise idea to check with you, to see if you knew where we might locate Lady Lillian.”

The silence seemed deafening. Remmington knew what Holybrook implied, and exactly what it meant. “You have my word that Lady Lillian is perfectly safe, Holybrook.”

The lines around Lord Holybrook’s mouth tightened into an expression of disapproval. “You realize that Crofford is a friend of mine, that I am obliged to inform him of this… incident?”

“I understand completely.”

“Very well, then. I will tell my wife that she should check Lady Lillian’s room once more, just to be certain. It is a large chamber, and perhaps Lady Lillian felt restless and happened to wander around to a part of the room that cannot be seen from the doorway. If you hear a knock on the door across the hallway in a quarter of an hour, pray do not let it disturb you.” Holybrook’s gaze dropped, as if he could not bear to look at him another moment. “Goodnight, Your Grace.”

“Goodnight, Holybrook.” Remmington took a step backward and closed the door. A strange calm settled over him as he continued to stare at the burnished wood.

“He knows,” Lily whispered. She repeated the words over and over in an anguished litany.

More than anything, he wanted to take her hand and lead her back to the bed, to comfort her the only way he knew how. He wanted to tell her that everything would be all right. He didn’t know if it would be. She didn’t seem to notice his concern. As if in a trance, she walked past him to retrieve her robe from the bed, then she returned to the door.

“I need to be in my room before Lady Holybrook returns.”

She was right. She had less than a quarter hour before Lady Holybrook would be at her door. Now wasn’t the time to discuss the situation, and she didn’t look ready to listen to anything he had to say. There was also the fact that he wanted to think carefully about what he would tell her, how he would tell her. This wasn’t the time. He opened the door and escorted Lily across the hall.

“Yes, thank you, Lady Holybrook. I shall be perfectly fine.” Lily knew that was a lie, but she managed to smile. “Good night.”

“Good night, my dear.” The door of the Queen’s Chamber closed behind Lady Holybrook.

Just before Lady Holybrook’s arrival, Lily had managed to wake Sophie and tell her what happened, that Lord Holybrook intended to tell her father that he’d found her in Remmington’s bedchamber. She turned toward the bed and searched Sophie’s stricken face, her voice a bare whisper. “What am I to do?”

The bedcovers twisted into knots beneath Sophie’s hands. “What…” She cleared her throat and tried again. “What did Remmington say? What does he intend to do?”

“He said we would talk more tomorrow, but I don’t think he intends to do anything.” Lily bit her lip. “You already know that he doesn’t want to marry me.”

“But this changes everything. Your honor is at stake.”

“It doesn’t change anything,” Lily said surely. “The very first time he kissed me, he thought I tempted him into the intimacy on purpose. He told me in no uncertain terms that he would not feel obliged to make an offer of marriage if I deliberately compromised myself.” She walked to the bed and sat on the edge, her voice without hope. “I am ruined, Sophie.”

“This is all my fault,” Sophie whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think anything like this would happen.”

Lily shook her head. “This isn’t your fault. It’s mine. I asked to meet with him in private. I made him believe it was a matter of great importance, when it was a matter of no importance at all.”

“You’re wrong, Lily.” Sophie slipped out of bed and picked up the candle that burned by the bedside, then she lit more tapers around the room until the warm glow of candlelight surrounded them. “Everything you told me about Remmington made me believe he truly cared for you. I thought if you denied your affections he would soon realize what seemed so obvious to me, that he is in love with you.”

“He is in lust with me, Sophie. Nothing more. I should have told you as much.” She managed a grim smile. “I thought you let me give up too easily.”

“You aren’t angry?”

“Because my friend tried to help me?” Lily shook her head. “If anything, I am angry with myself for not recognizing such a blatant attempt at matchmaking. I should have known you were baiting me on purpose, using my pride against me. You knew I would not tolerate the thought that Remmington pitied me.”

Sophie nodded, her expression uncertain. “My plan seemed to be working. I caught him staring at you on more than one occasion tonight, and there was something about his expression that seemed different than the one he wore during the carriage ride. I thought he looked worried.”

“As it turns out, his worries were well founded.” Lily regretted the terse words when tears formed in Sophie’s green eyes. She patted her friend’s hand. “Do not blame yourself, Sophie. Something like this was bound to happen. I’ve done nothing but ignore Remmington’s warnings, and thrust myself into his path at every turn. I knew the possible consequences and ignored them. Now I must pay the price.”

“The situation might not be as grim as it seems,” Sophie offered. “Lord Holybrook will surely tell your father, but I cannot think that he would repeat the story to anyone else, not when he knows your reputation is at stake.”

“He won’t have to tell anyone else.” She frowned over Sophie’s puzzled expression. “When Lord Holybrook realizes that Remmington doesn’t feel obliged to repair my reputation, he will naturally assume that I went to Remmington’s room uninvited.”

“But you didn’t! Remmington told you to meet him there.”

“Only because he thought it would be safer than the places I suggested, that a meeting there would go unnoticed. His concern for my safety and reputation does not change the fact that I requested the meeting in the first place.” Lily dismissed that part of the problem with an impatient wave. “By the end of the weekend, Lord Holybrook will know the responsibility lies with me, that as an unmarried woman and a guest in his house, my behavior is unforgivable. I’m sure he will ask that I relinquish my membership in the Antiquities Society.”

“I don’t think Lord Holybrook would go that far.” Sophie’s shoulders slumped. She knew as well as Lily that he would. Lily would no longer be considered an “acceptable” young lady, and Lord Holybrook’s fondness for her would not matter. There were certain unwritten rules in society that everyone followed whether they wanted to or not.

“There is also Patricia Farnsworth to consider,” Lily went on. “Lord Holybrook said she wakened half the south wing. That gossip alone might be overlooked, but people will begin to speculate soon enough about the reasons I am no longer a member of the Antiquities Society. They, too, will come to an obvious conclusion. I will become an outcast.” She pursed her lips, her expression thoughtful. “You know, Sophie, you could very well be right. This might not be as awful as it seems.”

Sophie looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “It is a disaster.”

“Actually, this could be a blessing in disguise. I will no longer be obliged or expected to attend balls or parties, or any of those annoying teas. No one will invite me to anything.”

“You will go mad from boredom,” Sophie predicted.

“Hardly,” Lily scoffed. “I can devote all the time I want to my work and to my studies.”

“You will become a spinster.”

“You make it sound like a fate worse than death.” Lily found herself smiling. “I think I shall rather enjoy being a spinster, accountable to no one, free to do as I please. Strange that I never fully considered the possibilities before now.”

“You realize that your father might have something to say about this spinster plan of yours? Or Robert? If Robert hears of this, you must also consider the possibility of a duel.”

Lily’s smile faded. “I will explain to them where the fault lies, that Remmington is not to blame in the least.”

“Really?” Sophie didn’t bother to hide her skepticism. “Do you honestly believe that anyone in their right mind will believe that Remmington is an innocent in all this, a helpless victim of your lust?”

“I suppose not,” Lily admitted. She stood up and began to pace, too agitated to sit still any longer. “Perhaps they would be more understanding if I told them we met to discuss some incident related to my attack.”

“I doubt it,” Sophie said. “Not when I tell my uncle that Remmington invited you to his room.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t. Sophie, tell me you won’t do anything so foolish!”

“Foolish is your plan to sacrifice yourself for this man. No matter how you justify it in your mind, he’s ruined you. I cannot bear to think of what your life will be like. He’s equally to blame, and deserves to pay the same price. Then it will be Remmington’s honor at stake when your father confronts him with the truth. Remmington will be forced to do what is right by you, or he will prove himself a complete scoundrel.”

“Please,” Lily pleaded, her hands clenched together in a deathlike grip. “Please don’t do anything that will force Remmington to marry me. He would hate me, Sophie. He would be stuck with me for the rest of our lives, and he would hate me. I couldn’t bear it!” She felt tears spill onto her cheeks and she angrily wiped them away. “Please say you won’t do that to me.”

Sophie caught her lower lip between her teeth and her firm expression crumbled. “I couldn’t do anything that would make you so miserable, yet I cannot think you will be any happier this way.” She buried her face in her hands. “I feel so helpless!”

Lily didn’t hesitate. She sat down and wrapped her arm around Sophie’s trembling shoulders. “There, there, Sophie. Everything will work out. You’ll see.”

Sophie managed to giggle through her tears. “I cannot believe you are trying to comfort me. You realize that
I
am supposed to be comforting
you
?”

“I think we are comforting each other.” She gave Sophie’s shoulders a squeeze. “Truly, Sophie. Things are not as bad as you think. I will manage through this, as long as I have your shoulder to lean upon.” She tried to cheer Sophie with another smile. “If nothing else, this gave us the opportunity to experience Lady Holybrook’s remarkable taste in dressing gowns. I’ve never seen one made entirely of pink boa feathers. When I first opened the door, I thought something from the menagerie had gotten loose and attacked poor Lady Holybrook.”

Sophie returned Lily’s smile, then they both began to laugh.

The next morning, Lily couldn’t find anything to laugh about. It was Sophie who discovered the note Remmington had slid under their door. While Lily brushed away the last effects of sleep, Sophie read the note aloud.